The script looked set when Jurgen Klopp’s side took a 1-0 lead through Daniel Sturridge, but it took just six minutes for the Black Cats to level as Defoe swept home from the penalty spot.
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Sunderland held on for a vital point, while Liverpool lose out on closing the gap to Chelsea, who play London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Mane handled Sebastian Larsson’s free-kick – a deadball situation that Klopp was at pains to make clear should have never been granted – gifting Sunderland another penalty and Defoe had his double.
Liverpool had the most gruelling Christmas/New Year schedule in the league and showed signs of that increasingly throughout the game with mistakes, fatigue and a lack of ideas.
At the other end of the pitch, Defoe was a constant menace to the Liverpool defence and his deadliness from the penalty spot was key to relegation-threatened Sunderland securing a point.
Sunderland next play in the Premier League on 14 January with a home game against Stoke (15:00), with Liverpool away at Manchester United at 16:00 the following day.
Then I would say no foul, no free-kick – there was no contact. Today two penalties against us feels not good.
Sadio Mane then restored their advantage on 72 minutes, but the Senegal worldwide conceded a penalty when he handled in the area six minutes from time and Defoe converted from 12 yards out again to earn a share of the spoils for the Black Cats.
That goal had come after Liverpool had threatened to score, forcing a couple of smart saves from Mannone, but Sunderland would bounce back soon enough.
“We can play better football but I’m not sure if you can play better with that break”. He needed to adapt a little bit, you’ll remember against Arsenal he lost the ball, for example. “I don’t think it’s too bad”, said Klopp.
“I thought we did quite well, matched Liverpool’s energy for long periods of the game and deserved a draw”.
Another ex-Reds player, full-back Javier Manquillo, entered the game to replace Rodwell after 65 minutes as Sunderland boss David Moyes looked for more solidity at the back.
“If I have no choice, then the players who are fit will play”.
“[Milner] felt like he got a knock on the calf, but he didn’t know exactly if he got a knock”.
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The result still has Liverpool in second place, but making life hard for themselves, while Sunderland claimed a valuable point to nestle them one point adrift of safety.
